Crypto Crime Statistics and Insights 2026
Here is a look at crypto crimes and scams, including key data and insights. Find the details you need to know.
Top 10 Cryptocurrency Scams by Total Loss
| Rank | Scam Name | Type | Estimated Amount Lost | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FTX Collapse | Exchange Fraud | $8.9 billion | 2022 |
| 2 | OneCoin | Ponzi/MLM | $4.4 billion | 2014-2017 |
| 3 | BitConnect | Ponzi Scheme | $3.45 billion | 2016-2018 |
| 4 | PlusToken | Ponzi Scheme | $2-6 billion | 2018-2019 |
| 5 | Thodex | Exit Scam | $2 billion | 2021 |
| 6 | MMM Bitcoin | Ponzi Scheme | $1.5 billion | 1990s-2010s |
| 7 | BitClub Network | Ponzi Scheme | $722 million | 2014-2019 |
| 8 | CoinUp | Ponzi Scheme | $384 million | 2018 |
| 9 | LIBRA (Argentina) | Rug Pull | $250 million | 2025 |
| 10 | QuadrigaCX | Exit Scam | $190 million | 2019 |
Key Insight: The top 10 crypto scams alone have resulted in over $23 billion in estimated losses, with Ponzi schemes accounting for 7 of the 10 largest cases.
Global Cryptocurrency Crime by Country (Volume)
| Rank | Country | Total Fraud (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Korea | $1,597,365,000 |
| 2 | United States | $2,045,349,000 |
| 3 | Russia | $1,456,900,000 |
| 4 | China | $2,269,521,000 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | $602,011,000 |
| 6 | Japan | $1,241,044,000 |
| 7 | Hong Kong | $586,002,000 |
| 8 | Canada | $169,729,000 |
| 9 | British Virgin Islands | $103,332,000 |
| 10 | Seychelles | $65,066,000 |
Key Insight: North Korea leads global crypto crime with $1.6 billion stolen, this represents more than 10% of the country’s entire GDP.
North Korean Crypto Hacking Activity (2024)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Total Stolen | $1.34 billion | 61% of all platform hacks in 2024 |
| Major Attribution | Lazarus Group | State-sponsored hacking group |
| Notable Attacks | DMM Bitcoin, WazirX, Ronin Network | Multiple high-profile heists |
| Primary Target | DeFi platforms and exchanges | Exploiting hot wallet vulnerabilities |
Key Insight: North Korean hackers were responsible for $1.34 billion of the $2.2 billion stolen from cryptocurrency platforms in 2024, representing 61% of total platform thefts.
Largest Cryptocurrency Rug Pulls
| Rank | Project Name | Year | Estimated Amount Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Africrypt | 2021 | $3.6 billion |
| 2 | Thodex | 2021 | $2+ billion |
| 3 | AnubisDAO (ANKH) | 2021 | $60 million |
| 4 | SHARPEI | 2024 | $50.6 million |
| 5 | zkSync Rug Pull | 2024 | $36.95 million |
| 6 | Yfdexf.Finance | 2020 | $20 million |
| 7 | Squid Game Token | 2021 | $3.36 million |
| 8 | Lucky Star Currency | 2023 | $3.1 million |
| 9 | Neiro | 2024 | $2.85 million |
| 10 | Emerald Mine | 2020 | $2.5 million |
Key Insight: Rug pulls exploded from $1.3 million in 2022 to $94.8 million in 2024, this shows a 7,192% increase in scam-driven exit schemes.
Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange Hacks (2011-2025)
| Rank | Exchange | Year | Amount Stolen | Cryptocurrency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bybit | 2025 | $1.4 billion | Ethereum (ETH) |
| 2 | Coincheck | 2018 | $534 million | NEM (XEM) |
| 3 | FTX | 2022 | $477 million | Multiple |
| 4 | Mt. Gox | 2014 | $460 million | Bitcoin (BTC) |
| 5 | DMM Bitcoin | 2024 | $308 million | Bitcoin (BTC) |
| 6 | KuCoin | 2020 | $281 million | Multiple |
| 7 | WazirX | 2024 | $230 million | Multiple |
| 8 | BitMart | 2021 | $196 million | Multiple |
| 9 | BitGrail | 2018 | $170 million | Nano (XNO) |
| 10 | CoinBene | 2019 | $105 million | Ethereum (ETH) |
Key Insight: The Bybit hack of 2025 represents a 162% increase over the previous record, this goes to show an escalating sophistication in crypto theft operations.
Bitcoin Theft by Year (Major Incidents)
| Year | BTC Stolen |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,138.98 |
| 2012 | 50,000 |
| 2020 | 12.22 |
| 2024 | 4,502.9 |
| 2025 | 3,520 |
Key Insight: Over 59,174 BTC has been stolen since 2010, worth an estimated $5.3 billion as of January 2026, with the 2012 Silk Road breach representing the single largest Bitcoin theft.
Ethereum Theft by Year (Major Incidents)
| Year | ETH Stolen |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,600,000 |
| 2017 | 43,000 |
| 2021 | 94,000 |
| 2022 | 173,600 |
| 2025 | 401,347 |
Key Insight: Over 4.1 million ETH has been stolen since 2016, totaling approximately $10.2 billion, with the 2025 Bybit hack marking the largest crypto theft ever in dollar terms.
Annual Cryptocurrency Theft Statistics (2015-2025)
| Year | Total Value Stolen |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $25 million |
| 2016 | $132 million |
| 2017 | $249 million |
| 2018 | $1.5 billion |
| 2019 | $543 million |
| 2020 | $531 million |
| 2021 | $3.3 billion |
| 2022 | $3.7 billion |
| 2023 | $1.8 billion |
| 2024 | $2.2 billion |
| 2025 | $3.4 billion |
Key Insight: Crypto theft surged from $25 million in 2015 to $3.7 billion in 2022, that is a 14,700% increase with the average annual growth rate exceeding 50% since 2015.
Top 10 US States by Crypto Fraud Losses (2024)
| Rank | State | Losses (Million $) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $1,393.63 |
| 2 | Texas | $738.58 |
| 3 | Florida | $584.75 |
| 4 | New York | $375.09 |
| 5 | Illinois | $272.63 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $262.64 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $236.72 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $218.64 |
| 9 | Washington | $204.69 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $201.53 |
California alone accounted for $1.39 billion in crypto fraud losses in 2024, that represents approximately 15% of all US crypto scam losses.
US Crypto Scam Losses by Crime Type (2024)
| Crime Type | Losses (Million $) | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Scams | $5,800 | 62.4% |
| Romance Scams | $237 | 2.5% |
| Other Crime Types | ~$3,263 | 35.1% |
Key Insight: Investment scams alone caused over $5.8 billion in US losses in 2024, that is more damage than all other crypto crime types combined. 64.9
US Crypto Scam Victims by Age Group (2024)
| Age Group | Complaint Count | Total Loss (Million $) | Median Loss ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1,819 | $8 | $535 |
| 20-29 | 13,591 | $370 | ~$2,700 |
| 30-39 | 22,218 | $1,006 | ~$4,500 |
| 40-49 | 22,555 | $1,462 | $3,899 |
| 50-59 | 19,317 | $1,185 | ~$6,100 |
| Over 60 | 33,369 | $2,839 | $25,000 |
Key Insight: While victims over 60 filed fewer complaints than middle-aged groups, their median loss of $25,000 was 47 times higher than victims under 20, this shows scammers’ targeted exploitation of elderly populations.
Illicit Cryptocurrency Transaction Trends (2021-2024)
| Year | % of Illicit Transactions | Notable Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.15% | Baseline measurement year |
| 2022 | 0.24% | 60% increase from 2021 |
| 2023 | 0.61% | Peak year; more than doubled from 2022 |
| 2024 | 0.14% | Sharp 77% decrease; lowest in four years |
Key Insight: Despite the dramatic drop to 0.14% in 2024, this represents an estimated $51 billion flowing to illicit wallets.
Cryptocurrency Money Laundering by Year (2019-2024)
| Year | Laundered Value (Billion $) | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $11 | – |
| 2020 | $9 | -18% |
| 2021 | $17 | +89% |
| 2022 | $31 | +82% |
| 2023 | $25 | -19% |
| 2024 | $9 | -64% |
Key Insight: Over $102 billion has been laundered through cryptocurrency channels since 2019, with 2022 representing the peak year at $31 billion before enforcement actions drove a significant decline.
Cryptocurrency Crime Types by Volume Percentage (2024)
| Crime Type | Share of Illicit Volume |
|---|---|
| Sanctions Violations | 33% |
| Blocklisted Funds | 29% |
| Scams and Fraud | 24% |
| Other Illicit Activity | 14% |
Key Insight: Sanctions violations now account for 33% of illicit crypto volume, this goes to show that geopolitical misuse has overtaken consumer scams as the leading crypto crime category.
Most Common Cryptocurrencies Used for Laundering (2021 vs 2024)
| Asset Type | 2021 Share | 2024 Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 70% | 20% | -50 percentage points |
| Stablecoins | 15% | 63% | +48 percentage points |
| Privacy Coins | 10% | 10% | No change |
| Altcoins | 5% | 7% | +2 percentage points |
Key Insight: Stablecoins jumped from 15% to 63% of illicit crypto flows between 2021 and 2024, replacing Bitcoin as criminals’ asset of choice due to price stability and easier integration with traditional finance.
Intermediary Wallets Used for Money Laundering (2019-2023)
| Year | Wallet Count (Millions) | Year-over-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7.0 | – |
| 2020 | 8.5 | +21% |
| 2021 | 8.0 | -6% |
| 2022 | 9.8 | +23% |
| 2023 | 12.0 | +22% |
Key Insight: The number of intermediary wallets jumped to 12 million in 2023, representing a 71% increase from 2019.
Cryptocurrency ATM Scam Statistics (Australia, 2024-2025)
| Metric | Value | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Reports (Jan 2024-Jan 2025) | 150 | One report every 2.5 days |
| Total Losses | $3,107,600 AUD | May be significant underreporting |
| Average Loss per Incident | $20,717 AUD | Substantial per-victim impact |
| Female Victims | 102 | 68% of victims |
| Victims Aged 51+ | 72 | 48% of victims |
| Investment Scam Cases | 63 | 42% of ATM scam reports |
| Extortion Email Cases | 35 | 23% of ATM scam reports |
| Romance Scam Cases | 24 | 16% of ATM scam reports |
Key Insight: Data shows approximately $275 million moving through Australian crypto ATMs annually, this suggests massive underreporting since only $3.1 million in losses were officially reported.
Top DeFi Hacks Metrics (2016-2022)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Losses | $5.5 billion |
| Most Targeted Blockchains | Ethereum and Solana |
| Attacks on Unaudited Contracts | 34% |
| Primary Attack Vector (2024) | Private key compromise (43.8%) |
Key Insight: The top DeFi hacks resulted in cumulative losses of $5.5 billion, with 34% targeting unaudited smart contracts.
Cryptocurrency Physical Violence Incidents (2022-2025)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Documented Incidents | 231 |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Total Value Stolen (Physical Attacks) | $166 million |
| Kidnapping-Related Losses | $128 million (77%) |
Key Insight: Between 2022 and 2025, there were 231 physical incidents linked to cryptocurrency crimes resulting in 6 deaths and $166 million stolen, with kidnapping accounting for 77% of physically stolen funds.
Notable Physical Crypto Crime Cases (2025)
| Date | Location | Victim | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | France | A crypto-millionaire’s father | €5-7M demanded | Kidnapping |
| May 2025 | Paris | The Paymium CEO’s family | Not specified | Kidnapping (unsuccessful) |
| May 2025 | Italy | An Unnamed investor | $28M Bitcoin | Torture |
| 2025 | London | A Trader | $123K BTC/XRP | Drugged |
| 2025 | Las Vegas | An Entrepreneur | $4.8 million | Kidnapping |
Key Insight: In May 2025 alone, three major kidnapping attempts targeted crypto holders in Europe, This shows how visible wealth from cryptocurrency investments has made holders prime targets for violent crime.
Terrorist Financing via Cryptocurrency (2024-2025)
| Terrorist Group | Transaction Range | Operating Regions | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISKP | $100-$15,000 per transaction | Afghanistan to global (Moscow, Germany, Turkey, UK) | Crypto-financed attacks |
| General Activities | – | Syria, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon | Humanitarian aid front for donations |
Key Insight: Terrorist entities operating in conflict zones have solicited crypto donations under the guise of humanitarian aid, with ISKP conducting crypto-financed attacks across multiple countries with transaction amounts ranging from $100 to $15,000.
Pig Butchering Scam Economic Impact
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Annual Proceeds | $64+ billion |
| Comparison to Country GDP | Double Cambodia’s GDP |
| Labor Trafficking Victims | Hundreds of thousands (estimates vary) |
| Primary Operating Regions | Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos) |
| Recent Expansion | Global (per 2025 UNODC report) |
Key Insight: Organized crime groups running pig butchering scam compounds generate an estimated $64 billion annually, double Cambodia’s entire GDP, making it one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises in modern history.
Social Media as Scam Contact Method (US Investment Scams)
| Year | Social Media Scam Victims | Percentage of Total | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,889 | 29% | Baseline |
| 2024 | 26,569 | 39% | +444% victims |
| H1 2025 | 13,691 | 39% | Continued dominance |
Key Insight: Social media-initiated investment scams grew 444% from 4,889 victims in 2020 to 26,569 in 2024, with 39% of all investment scam victims now contacted via social platforms, far more than any other method.
US Justice Department Cryptocurrency Seizure (2025)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Seized | $225.3 million |
| Number of Confirmed Victims | Dozens (US) |
| Suspected Victims Worldwide | 400+ |
| Type of Crime | Cryptocurrency investment fraud / money laundering |
| Designation | Largest cryptocurrency seizure in Secret Service history |
Key Insight: The $225.3 million seizure in 2025 represents the largest cryptocurrency confiscation in US Secret Service history, involving over 400 suspected victims worldwide.
Solana Theft Estimates by Year
| Year | Estimated SOL Stolen (USD Value) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $400 million |
| 2023-2024 | $50+ million (estimate) |
| 2025 | $300+ million (estimate) |
Key Insight: Solana-based thefts surged from an estimated $50 million in 2023-2024 to $300+ million in 2025.
Post-Theft Bitcoin Laundering Patterns
| Method | Usage Percentage |
|---|---|
| Privacy Coins (Monero) | 45% |
| Peel Chains | 70% |
| Cross-Chain Bridges | 30% |
Key Insight: 70% of Bitcoin thieves use peel chains to break large sums into harder-to-trace transactions, making this the most common obfuscation method despite privacy coin swaps affecting 45% of stolen Bitcoin.
Post-Theft Ethereum Laundering Patterns
| Method | Usage Percentage |
|---|---|
| Privacy Tools (Monero) | 60% |
| Cross-Chain Bridges | 25% |
| Peel Chains | 15% |
Key Insight: 60% of stolen Ethereum is swapped to Monero via decentralized exchanges, this shows privacy coins remain the dominant laundering tool for Ethereum-based thefts compared to Bitcoin.
Recovery Scam Characteristics
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| Response Time | Replies within minutes to scam reports |
| Username Pattern | Names like @cyber_recovery43 (numbers coordinate banned/active accounts) |
| Email Type | Anonymous/unprofessional (e.g., @gmail) |
| Success Rate Claims | “99% recovery rate” or “over $500 million recovered” |
| Capability Claims | “Advanced algorithms” or “machine learning” |
| Fee Structure | Major upfront fees or exaggerated prices for vague tasks |
Key Insight: Recovery scams exploit already-vulnerable victims by using social media bots to identify scam reports and respond within minutes, targeting people in their most desperate state for secondary victimization.
References
DataGlobeHub makes use of the best available data sources to support each publication. We prioritize sources of good reputation, like government sources, authoritative sources, expert sources, and well-researched publications. When citing our sources, we provide the report title followed by the publication name. Where not applicable, we provide just the publication name.
- The state of crypto scams – Elliptic
- Crypto and Investment Scam Statistics – The Motley Fool
- Largest Ever Seizure of Funds Related to Crypto Confidence Scams – U.S. Department of Justice
- Crypto Crime Trends – Chainalysis
- Crypto Crime Report – CoinLedger
- Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud – FBI
- Crypto Scam Tracker – DFPI
- $3 million lost to cryptocurrency ATM scams in 12 months may be just the tip of the iceberg – Australian Federal Police (AFP)
